Closure for a weaning cup

ABSTRACT

A sipper cup ( 10 ) includes a valve ( 16 ), when the valve ( 16 ) is not deformed, the valve is in an “off” position, so that no substantial liquid flows, even if the cup is turned upside down.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a child's sipper cup which functions asa weaning aid. The closure for the cup has a valve which is opened withbite or lip pressure, thus preventing the use of a nursing motion towithdraw fluid. The valve is comprised of a flexible material having adurometer hardness range of 60-90 Å.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The transition from bottle or breast feeding to drinking from a cup isoften a difficult transition for a child. The mechanics of drinking froma cup are initially difficult, and there is the loss of pleasure derivedfrom nursing. To facilitate this transition, it would be useful to havea sipper cup which provides something of the feel of a nipple, yetrequires bite or lip pressure rather than a nursing motion to removefluid from a cup. In nursing, the tongue musculature moves in abackward-forward peristaltic (wave-like) motion, and the tongue mustprotrude beyond the gums for effective suckling. When bite or lippressure is required to remove fluid from the cup, nursing is prevented,as bite or lip pressure blocks the tongue from protruding beyond thegums.

Some cups have been designed with valves that open by pressure of thelips. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,782,975, 4,828,141 and 4,946,062disclose a valved spout for a container closure lid. The opening of thevalve is a slit and is normally in a closed position. The slit opens bythe application of force laterally to the edge of the valve. The valveis formed of flexible and resilient material such as synthetic rubbercompositions.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,336 discloses a valve for a flexible liquidcontainer that can be opened by application of pressure from a user'slips or teeth. The valve comprises an elongated hollow body ending in adiaphragm having at least one slit, the slit being the opening throughwhich liquid is dispensed. When pressure is applied, the slits open andallow fluid to be expelled from the container.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,350,260 discloses a lid for a drinking cup, the lidcomprising a mouthpiece extending upwardly from one peripheral edge ofthe lid. The mouthpiece fits within the user's mouth and has a valvethat is operable by pressure from the user's lips or teeth, and whichcontrols the flow of liquid from the container.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,877 discloses a container closed by a lid having aflexible gasket which opens upon application of bite or lip pressure tothe gasket.

However, various problems can be seen in the design of these cups. Thevalve may prevent complete emptying of the contents of the cup, leadingto the possibility of bacterial contamination or the like. The valve mayalso not prevent leakage when the cup is overturned or dropped by thechild. With prolonged use over time, the opposing sides of the valvewhich form the slit will fail to fully close, leading to further leakageof the cup. Additionally, the cup lid and valve must be comprised of amaterial that is flexible enough to allow a young child to open the cupwith bite or lip pressure, yet be designed in a manner that discouragesor prevents nursing from the valve.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the above need by providing a closure for asipper cup having a valve that aids in weaning a child from a bottle orbreast to a cup. The valve is made from a flexible material such as athermoplastic elastomer—olefin mixture having unique properties suitablefor a child's cup. The durometer hardness of the flexible material mustbe within the range of 60-90 Å. Other flexible materials such as naturalor synthetic rubbers and silicone may also be used, as long as they havethe desired durometer hardness. The valve is openable by bite or lippressure only. That is, the nursing action of an infant, which producesa 8-10 in. Hg vacuum, will not produce a significant fluid flow.Additionally, the top of the valve, which bows outward when in use, isdesigned in such a way to ensure complete emptying of the cup, thuspreventing contamination. The valve also minimizes leakage or spills ifthe cup is dropped or overturned.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a sippercup that aids in weaning a child from a bottle or breast to a cup.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a sipper cup thatcan be operated by pressure of the lips or gums.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a sipper cup that iscomprised of a material having suitable properties for use in a child'scup.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing drawings, the detailed description and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is further illustrated by the following non-limiteddrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the closure with a closed valve.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the closure with an open valve.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the closure taken along line 3-3 inFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the closure on a container.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of theclosure.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the closure taken alongline 3-3 in FIG. 2 (when spout is in relaxed position).

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the closure taken alongline 3-3 in FIG. 2 (when spout is in pinched position).

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the closure taken along line 4-4 inFIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown on FIGS. 1 and 2, a closure 10 for a drinking cup 1 (FIG. 4)includes a skirt 12, an end wall 14, and a valve 16. The skirt 12depends from the end wall 14, extending in a downward direction. Asshown on FIG. 3, the end wall 14 has a first, outer side 18 and asecond, inner side 20. An opening 22 extends through the end wall 14.Optionally, the end wall 14 has a small opening 58 (FIG. 1) to ease theflow of liquid from the cup and prevent formation of a vacuum. The skirt12 includes a means to engage the drinking cup 1. As shown in FIG. 3,the means to engage the drinking cup 1 is a lip 24 that is structured toengage a ridge on the cup. The means to engage the drinking cup 1 may beany common coupling structure, such as a snap-fit or screw-on lid.

The valve 16 is disposed about the opening 22. The valve 16 extends fromthe end wall first, outer side 18. The valve 16 has a first transitionportion 30, an elongated flexible body 32, a second transition portion34, a top 36, and a slit 38. The top 36 can be flat, domed or concave,as any shape that can be made compatible with the valve is suitable. Thetop 36 includes two flexible portions 40, 42 (FIG. 1), each about 4 to 5mm in width and having an outer area, 40A, 42A (FIG. 8), a thickenedinternal bridge 40B, 42B (FIG. 8) of a width between about 1 to 2 mm,preferably 0.1 to 0.2 mm, and an inner area 40C, 42C (FIG. 8) of a widthabout 0.5 to 3.5 mm, preferably 1.3 to 1.8 mm. The slit 38 is disposedbetween the internal bridge 40B, 42B and inner areas 40C, 42C. The slit38 is about 5.5. mm long. The outer areas 40A, 42A and inner areas 40C,42C of the flexible portions 40, 42 have a thickness of not more thanabout 1.5 mm and not less than about 0.5 mm; preferably the outer areas40A, 42A of the flexible portions and the inner areas 40C, 42C have athickness of about 1.0 to 1.2 mm. The thickened internal bridge has athickness of about 1.0-2.0 mm, more preferably 1.6 to 1.9 mm, mostpreferably 1.7 to 1.85. With these dimensions, the flexible portions 40,42 are less likely to become warped after use. Thus, the valve 16 isable to maintain the sealing function longer. In addition, the thickenedinternal bridge 40B, 42B in combination with an inner area 40C, 42C ofreduced thickness provides the valve with a “snap-back” return uponclosing, without loss of flexibility. As used herein, the term “flexibleportion” will be used to denote the entire flexible portion of the topof the closure, 40, 42, on either side of the slit 38, including thethickened internal bridge portions 40B, 42B, and the outer areas 40A,42A and inner areas 40C, 42C of thinner dimension. FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 showthis aspect of the invention in more detail.

The flexible portions 40, 42 are structured to move between a closedposition (FIG. 1) and an open position (FIG. 2). In the closed position,the flexible portions 40, 42 have one edge 44, 46 abutting the otherflexible portion edge 44, 46. That is, the edges 44, 46 abut each otherand are bisected by the slit 38. As detailed below, in the secondposition, the flexible portions 44, 46 are bowed outward so that theslit 38 is wider. Both the first transition portion 30 and the secondtransition portion 34 are slanted away from the end wall 14.

The valve 16 is made from a flexible material which is preferably athermoplastic elastomer—olefin polymer material, although othermaterials having the desired durometer hardness described below, such asnatural or synthetic rubbers or silicone-based materials, arecontemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. Theelongated, flexible body 32 is preferably shaped as an oval, having twoopposing long sides 50, 52 and two opposing short sides 54, 56. The slit38 extends between the long sides 50, 52. In this configuration, whenbite or lip pressure, such as could be applied by a child, is applied tothe long sides 50, 52 of the elongated flexible body 32, as shown inFIG. 2 by arrows L-L, the two flexible portions 40, 42 move from thefirst, closed position to the second open position. That is, when acompressive pressure is applied to the oval long sides 50, 52, theflexible portions 40, 42 bow outward thereby making slit 38 wider. Thenursing action of an infant or child, more specifically the 8-10 Hgvacuum applied in nursing from a breast or bottle, will not producesignificant fluid flow from the valve, distinguishing the valve as atrue weaning invention. Additionally, as can be seen in the figures, andin particular FIG. 2, the design of the valve, that is, having a top 36in the closed position and flexible portions 40, 42 which bow outward inthe open position, ensures that substantially all liquid can be removedfrom the cup when the valve is in the open position. In other words thevalve does not “trap” any liquid within the cup.

As shown in FIG. 4, the closure 10 is structured to engage a cup 1. Thecup 1 has a body 2 is structured to hold a liquid. The body 2 cup has abottom 3, a sidewall 4, and an upper opening (not shown). The cup 1includes a coupling means, such as a thread (not shown) that isstructured to engage lip 24. When the closure 10 is joined to a cup 1,the cup 1 acts as a sipper cup or weaning aid.

The material of the valve and cup lid is preferably a thermoplasticelastomer—olefin polymer mixture which imparts unique properties to thesipper cup. For example, the material is rigid enough to allow the lidof the cup to be screwed or snapped onto the cup itself, and yetflexible enough to enable a 10-month old infant to deform the valve withbite or lip pressure. The material also has good tear resistance, sothat pieces of the material will not come off in the child's mouth. Thisis very important, as it provides an additional safety feature to thecup.

Preferably, the thermoplastic elastomer—olefin mixture will have adurometer hardness in the range of about 60-90 Å, as measured by theShore A scale. Any material having a durometer hardness in this rangewould be suitable for use in the present invention. This hardness rangewill result in a material having the desired properties discussed above.More preferably, the durometer hardness will be about 75-85 A; and mostpreferably the durometer hardness will be about 78-80 A.

The material used in the lid and valve can also be described in terms ofthe force required to deform the elastomer and cause the valve to open.As the sipper cup is intended for use by a child in the age range ofabout 10 months to 3 years, the force required to deform the valve mustbe within the capabilities of a child in this age range. Typically, thiswill be about 1.5-9.0 newtons, preferably about 4.0-5.0 newtons.

Any thermoplastic elastomer—olefin mixture can be used, as long as itprovides the desired durometer hardness. Suitable thermoplasticelastomers include, for example, those sold under the Versaflextradename by GLS Corporation of McHenry, Ill. Most preferred is thethermoplastic elastomer sold under the tradename of Versaflex CL-40, byGLS Corporation.

Similarly, any olefin polymer can be used, as long as it results in amaterial having the desired durometer hardness. Suitable olefinsinclude, but are not limited to, polyethylene, polypropylene,polyisobutylene, polymethylpentene, and other similar olefins. Mostpreferred is polypropylene, as it results in a material of superiorproperties. Preferably, the thermoplastic elastomer and the olefin willbe mixed in a ratio of about 8 parts elastomer to about 2 parts olefin,however, the ratio may be between from 6.5-9.5 parts elastomer to about0.5-3.5 parts olefin. The components are mixed as is well known in theart of injection molding. After the mixture is obtained, the materialcan be molded in the above described design by methods known in the art.

An alternate embodiment of the closure 110 is shown in FIG. 5. In thisembodiment, the end wall 114 and the skirt 112 are separate pieces. Theskirt 112 includes a generally circular central opening 111 and a flange113 that extends radially inward. The end wall 114 is sized to besmaller than the diameter of the skirt 112, but larger than thegenerally circular central opening 111. Thus, the end wall 114 isstructured to engage the flange 113. A seal 115 may be disposed betweenthe end wall 114 and the flange 113. When the closure 110 engages thedrinking cup 1, the end wall 114 is biased towards the flange 113thereby making a generally water-tight interface. The valve 116 isdisposed on the end wall 114. The valve 116 is similar to the valve 16described above.

Whereas particular embodiments of this invention have been describedabove for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilledin the art that numerous variations of the details of the presentinvention may be made without departing from the invention as defined inthe appending claims.

1. A closure for a drinking cup comprising; a body having a skirt, anand wall, and a valve; said end wall having an opening therethrough;said skirt structured to engage said drinking cup; and said valvedisposed over said opening and having an elongated flexible body, a top,and a slit on said top, said top including two flexible portions dividedby said slit; and said flexible portions each having a thickenedinternal bridge and movable from a closed position, wherein saidflexible portions abut each other, to an open position, wherein saidflexible portions bow outward thereby widening said slit.
 2. The closurefor a drinking cup of claim 1 wherein: said elongated, flexible body hasan oval shape having two opposing long sides and two opposing shortsides; said elongated, flexible body being structured to be squeezed onsaid long sides of said oval; said slit extending between the long sidesof said oval; and said elongated, flexible body structured to move saidflexible portions between said closed position and said open position assaid elongated, flexible body is squeezed.
 3. The closure for a drinkingcup of claim 2 wherein said elongated body is structured to be squeezedand deformed by the force of a child's lips, gums or teeth.
 4. Theclosure for a drinking cup of claim 1 wherein when said flexibleportions are in said open position, said flexible portions bow outward.5. The closure for a drinking cup of claim 4 wherein: said flexible,elongated body includes at least one transition portion; said transitionportion disposed between said flexible, elongated body and said top; andsaid transition portion slanted away from said end wall.
 6. The closurefor a drinking cup of claim 5 wherein a transition portion is disposedbetween said end wall and said flexible, elongated body.
 7. The closurefor a drinking cup of claim 1 wherein said skirt includes at least onelip structured to engage a thread on said cup.
 8. The closure for adrinking cup of claim 1 wherein said body is made from a flexiblematerial comprising a thermoplastic elastomer and an olefin.
 9. Theclosure for a drinking cup of claim 8, wherein said thermoplasticelastomer and olefin are present in said flexible material in a ratio ofabout 6.5-9.5 parts thermoplastic elastomer to about 0.5-3.5 partsolefin.
 10. The closure for a drinking cup of claim 8, wherein saidflexible material has a durometer hardness of between about 60-90 A. 11.The closure for a drinking cup of claim 8, wherein said flexiblematerial requires a force of at least about 1.5-9.0 newtons to deformsaid flexible material and open said valve.
 12. A closure for a drinkingcup comprising: a skin having a flange, an end wall having a valve; saidend wall having an opening therethrough; said skirt structured to engagesaid drinking cup; and said valve disposed over said opening and havingan elongated, flexible body, a top, and a slit on said top, said topincludes two flexible portions divided by said slit; and said flexibleportions having a thickened internal bridge and movable from a closedposition, wherein said flexible portions abut each other, to an openposition, wherein said flexible portions bow outward thereby wideningsaid slit.
 13. The closure for a drinking cup of claim 12 wherein: saidelongated, flexible body has an oval shape having two opposing longsides and two opposing short sides; said elongated, flexible body beingstructured to be squeezed on said long sides of said oval; said slitextending between the long sides of said oval; and said elongated,flexible body structured to move said flexible portions between saidclosed position and said open position as said elongated, flexible bodyis squeezed.
 14. The closure for a drinking cup of claim 12 wherein aseal is disposed between the flange and the end wall.
 15. The closurefor a drinking cup of claim 12, wherein each of said thickened internalbridges has a thinner inner area which abuts said slit.
 16. The closurefor a drinking cup of claim 1, wherein each of said thickened internalbridges has a thinner inner area which abuts said slit.
 17. A valveassembly for a closure for a drinking cup comprising: a body having anend wall and a valve; said end wall having an opening therethrough; andsaid valve disposed over said opening and having an elongated, flexiblebody, a top, and a slit on said top, said top including two flexibleportions divided by said slit; and said flexible portions having athickened internal bridge and movable from a closed position, whereinsaid flexible portions abut each other, to an open position, whereinsaid flexible portions bow outward thereby widening said slit.
 18. Thevalve assembly of claim 17 wherein: said elongated, flexible body has anoval shape having two opposing long sides and two opposing short sides;said elongated, flexible body being structured to be squeezed on saidlong sides of said oval; said slit extending between the long sides ofsaid oval; and said elongated, flexible body structured to move saidflexible portions between said closed position and said open position assaid elongated, flexible body is squeezed.
 19. The valve assembly ofclaim 17 wherein said elongate body is structured to be squeezed anddeformed by the force of a child's lips, gums or teeth.
 20. The valveassembly of claim 18 wherein when said flexible portions are in saidopen position, said flexible portions bow outward.
 21. The valveassembly of claim 17 wherein: said flexible, elongated body includes atleast one transition portion; said transition portion disposed betweensaid flexible, elongated body and said top; and said transition portionslanted away from said end wall.
 22. The valve assembly of claim 21wherein a transition portion is disposed between said end wall and saidflexible, elongated body.
 23. The valve assembly of claim 17 whereinsaid end wall and said valve arc made from a flexible materialcomprising a thermoplastic elastomer and an olefin.
 24. The valveassembly of claim 23, wherein said thermoplastic elastomer and olefinare present in said flexible material in a ratio of about 6.5-9.5 partsthermoplastic elastomer to about 0.5-3.5 parts olefin.
 25. The valveassembly of claim 23, wherein said flexible material has a durometerhardness of between about 60-90 A.
 26. The valve assembly of claim 23,wherein said flexible material requires a form of at least about 1.5-9.0newtons to deform said flexible; material and open said valve.
 27. Thevalve assembly of claim 17, wherein each of said thickened internalbridges has a thinner inner area which abuts said slit.
 28. A closurefor a drinking cup comprising: a body having a skirt, an end wall, and avalve; said end wall having an opening therethrough; said skirtstructured to engage said drinking cup; and said valve disposed oversaid opening and having an elongated, flexible body, a top, and a sliton said top, said valve characterized as opened by bite, lip or gumpressure but not opened by suction, and the nursing action of an infantwill not produce significant fluid flow.
 29. The closure for a drinkingcup of claim 28 wherein: said top includes two flexible portions dividedby said slit; and said flexible portions movable from a closed position,wherein said flexible portions abut each other, to an open position,wherein said flexible portions bow outward thereby widening said slit.30. The closure for a drinking cup of claim 29 wherein: said elongated,flexible body has an oval shape having two opposing long sides and twoopposing short sides; said elongated, flexible body being structure tobe squeezed on said long sides of said oval; said slit extending betweenthe long sides of said oval; and said elongated, flexible bodystructured to move said flexible portions between said closed positionand said open position as said elongated, flexible body is squeezed. 31.The closure for a drinking cup of claim 30 wherein said elongated bodyis structured to be squeezed and deformed by the force of a child'slips, gums or teeth.
 32. The closure for a drinking cup of claim 29wherein when said flexible portions are in said open position, saidflexible portions bow outward.
 33. The closure for a drinking cup ofclaim 32 wherein: said flexible, elongated body includes at least onetransition portion; said transition portion disposed between saidflexible, elongated body and said top; and said transition portion isslanted away from said end wall.
 34. The closure for a drinking cup ofclaim 33 wherein a transition portion is disposed between said end walland said flexible, elongated body.
 35. The closure for a drinking cup ofclaim 28 wherein said skirt includes at least one lip structured toengage a thread on said cap.
 36. The closure for a drinking cup of claim29, wherein said flexible portions each have a thickened internalbridge.
 37. The closure for a drinking cup of claim 36, wherein each ofsaid thickened internal bridges has a thinner inner area which abutssaid slit.
 38. A closure for a drinking cup comprising: a skirt having aflange, an end wall having a valve; said end wall having an openingtherethrough; said skirt structured to engage said drinking cup; andsaid valve disposed over said opening and having an elongated, flexiblebody, a top, and a slit on said top, said valve characterized as openedby bite, lip or gum pressure but not opened by suction, and the nursingaction of an infant will not produce significant fluid flow.
 39. Theclosure for a drinking cup of claim 38 wherein: said top includes twoflexible portions divided by said slit; and said flexible portionsmovable from a closed position, wherein said flexible portions abut eachother, to an open position, wherein said flexible portions bow outwardthereby widening said slit.
 40. The closure for a drinking cup of claim38 wherein: said elongated, flexible body has an oval shape having twoopposing long sides and two opposing short sides; said elongated,flexible body being structured to be squeezed on said long sides of saidoval; said slit extending between the long sides of said oval: and saidelongated, flexible body structured to move said flexible portionsbetween said closed position and said open position as said elongated,flexible body is squeezed.
 41. The closure for a drinking cup of claim38 wherein a seal is disposed between the flange and the end wall. 42.The closure for a drinking cup of claim 38, wherein said flexibleportions each have a thickened internal bridge.
 43. The closure for adrinking cup of claim 42, wherein each of said thickened internalbridges has a thinner inner area which abuts said slit.
 44. A valveassembly for a closure for a drinking cup comprising: a body having anend wall and a valve; said end wall having an opening therethrough; andsaid valve disposed over said opening and having an elongated, flexiblebody, a top, and a slit on said top, said valve characterized as openedby bite, lip or gum pressure but not opened by suction, and the nursingaction of an infant will not produce significant fluid flow.
 45. Thevalve assembly of claim 44 wherein: said top includes two flexibleportions divided by said slit; and said flexible portions movable from aclosed position, wherein said flexible portions abut each other, to anopen position, wherein said flexible portions bow outward therebywidening said slit.
 46. The valve assembly of claim 44 wherein: saidelongated, flexible body has an oval shape having two opposing longsides and two opposing short sides; said elongated, flexible body beingstructured to be squeezed on said long sides of said oval; said slitextending between the long sides of said oval; and said elongated,flexible body structured to move said flexible portions between saidclosed position and said open position as said elongated, flexible bodyis squeezed.
 47. The valve assembly of claim 44 wherein said elongatedbody is structured to be squeezed and deformed by the force of a child'slips, gums or teeth.
 48. The valve assembly of claim 45 wherein whensaid flexible portions are in said open position, said flexible portionsbow outward.
 49. The valve assembly or claim 44 wherein: said flexible,elongated body includes at least one transition portion; said transitionportion disposed between said flexible elongated body and said top; andsaid transition portion is slanted away from said end wall.
 50. Thevalve assembly or claim 44 wherein a transition portion is disposedbetween said end wall and said flexible, elongated body.
 51. The valveassembly of claim 45, wherein said flexible portions each have athickened internal bridge.
 52. The valve assembly of claim 51, whereineach of said thickened internal bridge s a thinner inner area whichabuts said slit.
 53. The closure for a drinking cup of claim 1, furthercomprising a second opening in said end wall to ease the flow of liquidfrom the cup aid prevent formation of a vacuum.
 54. The closure for adrinking cup of claim 12, further comprising a second opening in saidend wall to ease the flow of liquid from the cup and prevent formationof a vacuum.
 55. The valve assembly of claim 17, further comprising asecond opening in said end wall to ease the flow of liquid from the cupand prevent formation of a vacuum.
 56. The closure for a drinking cup ofclaim 28, further comprising a second opening in said end wall to casethe flow of liquid from the cup and prevent formation of a vacuum. 57.The closure for a drinking cup of claim 38, further comprising a secondopening in said end wall to ease the flow of liquid from the cup andprevent formation of a vacuum.
 58. The valve assembly of claim 45,further comprising a second opening in said end wall to ease the flow ofliquid from the cup and prevent formation of a vacuum.